Artists You Should Know: Upchuck is Punching Upward Against the World with Punk Music on New Album “I’m Nice Now”

Although best known for their aggressive brand of punk music that stays true to the genre’s beginnings, Atlanta band Upchuck is broadening their horizons on their funky new album, I’m Nice Now, produced by Ty Segall.

But before the change of pace, the band’s origins can be traced back to its lead singer’s need to be heard at the loudest possible volume. Kaila “KT” Thompson, in true punk fashion, was no stranger to saying the quiet part out loud before the band’s formation in 2018 out of Atlanta’s skate scene.

ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

BEST NEW MUSIC

When the five-piece did come together – rounded out by Chris Salgado (drums/vocals), Mikey Durham (guitar), Hoff (guitar), and Ausar Ward (bass) – KT drew upon her experiences as a Black woman and the injustices she was seeing every day. Those observations would inform the in-your-face nature of their first two albums, Sense Yourself and Bite The Hand That Feeds.

So when the band announced their Domino label debut, I’m Nice Now, it signaled an apparent change in direction that showed off their range. However, their pivot to funkier territory is not representative of a permanent change or the manifestation of the album’s title, a distinction that KT stressed ahead of its release.

“In this world of constant distractions and stressors it’s important to keep your mind, body, and spirit sane and sound enough to continue through this seemingly never-ending fight,” she said. “Being a POC, by default, you’re gonna have that rage.”

Rage is a common subject for the band and is pertinent to their newest material. “New Case,” a song that’s steadily becoming one of their biggest hits to date, embraces a woozy pace that reflects the album’s groovier flashes and draws on genres like garage rock.

Compared to their 2023 track, “Freaky,” the song shows Upchuck doesn’t play it safe, as they let “New Case” carry an edge similar to the music that came before. Its predecessor is closer to their usual speed, complete with fuzzy guitars, rapid-fire vocals from KT, and evident influences from the band, which they then fire off on all cylinders to pioneer the punk genre.

Meanwhile, “Plastic,” another rager, sticks to the punk formula of hard, fast, and loud. The track reaches its climax as drummer Chris Salgado delivers a powerful set of lyrics in his native Spanish, with such vigor that it almost feels like a hex.

When you have a band like Upchuck that upholds the past in equal regard to moving the needle forward to hungry fans of punk, it’s easy to join the crowd rooting for them to keep going.

Upchuck just wrapped their U.S./UK/EU tour with Los Angeles gigs at The Echo and The Sardine. Their new album, I’m Nice Now, is out now via Domino. Follow them on Instagram and Bandcamp for all the latest.